Tuesday 10 September 2013 00.03 EDT
First published on Tuesday 10 September 2013 00.03 EDT

Jaymes Diaz has finally conceded defeat in the seat of Greenway.

In a statement issued through the New South Wales Liberal party, Diaz – the infamously gaffe-prone candidate whose failure to explain the Coalition's six-point plan to stop asylum boats went viral around the world – thanked his friends and family for help on the campaign.

"We put up a good fight," he said. "I'm proud of the clean campaign I ran and I thank everyone for their support along the way.''

She said she was unfazed by the lack of contact from Diaz. "I was so humbled by the result I wasn't even thinking about anyone else," she said.

She added that Liberal campaigners had been so confident of victory in Greenway they had goaded her on polling day.

"I was basically given no chance of winning at all ... People on the booths, who were handing out for the Liberals, were mocking me, saying basically: 'Have you got your CV ready? You've only got two hours left in your job. Have you found a new job yet?'"

Rowland said the Liberals had outspent her on the campaign trail by two to one and that the victory was a triumph for localism. "It just proves that when you actually follow a strong campaign and you have a good story to tell, and you've got work that backs you up, sometimes you get the result."

Asked what her message for Diaz was, she said: "Thanks for a good campaign, it was tough fought, and the people of Greenway have spoken and we all accept the decision with humility and gratitude."